Super Wines For Super Bowl

It’s that time of year again, and whether you are an Eagles or a Panthers fan (go Hawks!), chances are you, along with 114 million others, will be watching the Super Bowl. Super Bowl means salty, fatty, not-good-for-you snacks (ciao New Year’s resolution), but most of all, Super Bowl means beer, right? Sure. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can upgrade to salty, fatty, not-good-for-you snacks and wine. Yes, wine.

While the recommendations below aren’t sorted by tribe, you can be confident that whatever your fave Super Bowl snack, terrific wine pairings are to be had. The key is understanding what types of snacks you will be indulging in.

Spice is Nice

Are you favorite snacks bold and spicy? Love jalapeño poppers, spicy wings or chili? Then you need a big, bold, spicy wine to match. A classic pairing is a Shiraz (aka: Syrah). Some of my personal faves are:
– Kerloo Cellars 2012 Walla Walla Syrah, $40. My Wine Tribe recently tasted at Kerloo Cellars, and this wine was a big hit with the Balanced, Developed and Complex tribes.
– Bonny Doon Vineyard 2012 La Pousseur, $26. This is a great California Syrah with lots of smoke and spiciness.

Where’s the Beef?

Prefer meaty snacks and not afraid of a little fat? If you are going to be chowing on burgers, brauts and BBQ you really need a big red wine with some pronounced tannins to cut through the fat and stand up to the meat. Wines that might normally be too tannic for you work wonders when paired with heavy foods. I recommend a California Cabernet Sauvignon. Here are some ideas:
– Chateau St. Jean 2012 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $35. I am a big fan of Chateau St. Jean. You can find their wines in the supermarket and they’re always good. Note this wine was named one of the top 100 of 2015 by Wine Spectator.
– Leese-Fitch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $12. This is a great price for a bold yet easy drinking Cab. Plus at a recent wine tribe tasting this scored really well across the tribes so it’s a great crowd pleaser.

Pass the salt

If you, like me, crave salty, fatty snacks–i.e.: you dig a good cheese tray, yummy queso dip or potato chips and onion dip—you need a high acid white wine. The acid will balance the salt and cut through the fat; it’s a marriage made in heaven. You can get creative here and go with an acidic Sauvignon Blanc, a dry Riesling or, if you want put out a celebratory vibe, something bubbly. Here are some faves:

– Pomelo 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, $12. I can’t say enough about this wine. It’s delicious, it’s inexpensive and it’s a crowd pleaser. Wine Spectator agrees–this is another wine that made their top 100 list.
– Eroica 2013 Riesling Columbia Valley, $25. This wine is the result of a partnership between Dr. Loosen Estates in Germany and Chateau St. Michelle in Washington, so you get Washington grapes and German know how. It’s a lovely dry Riesling.
– Gruet Brut, $15. This New Mexican sparkler is another Wine Tribe favorite. Do it!

If you have any favorite football food pairings let us know in the comments section below. Cheers to wine and the Super Bowl and may the best team win!